Jim Hunter (Topps actually let "Catfish" slip through here) scowls at the camera.
The date is July 28, 1973.
Perhaps the scowl is a grimace of pain. Only four days earlier Hunter pitched in the All Star Game, and had his thumb fractured on a comebacker hit by Billy Williams. Hunter missed almost a month, but the injury to his pitching hand did no permanent damage and he was his usual All-Star self upon his return. That day, a Saturday, was a day game victory for the A's, who fell behind early 4-1, but righted the ship when Darold Knowles replaced Blue Moon Odom in the fifth inning. Knowles pitched 4.2 shutout innings, and the A's scored 4 runs in the 5th inning, as four players got RBI hits, and Oakland ended up winning 6-4.
Could Hunter's 1975 Topps card photo come from the same shoot? It certainly looks like it could have been. However there doesn't appear to be any kind of cast on that thumb so maybe not. And notice there is no "Catfish" in the signature here.
And this is our first repeat date!
Dave Nelson's photo was also taken on July 28, 1973.
It looks like his mustache extends down just a bit further on the Deckle card.
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